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IMG gets set for major expansion

Local government officials, community leaders and student-athletes attended a ground-breaking ceremony Wednesday for a multi-million dollar expansion at IMG Academy in Bradenton. The project includes a multi-sport complex, student dormitory, field house and other facilities.

Published: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 10:44 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 10:44 p.m.

Local government officials, community leaders and student-athletes attended a ground-breaking ceremony Wednesday for a multi-million dollar expansion at IMG Academy in Bradenton. The project includes a multi-sport complex, student dormitory, field house and other facilities.

STAFF PHOTO / ELIZABETH JOHNSON

IMG Academy broke ground Wednesday on one of the largest expansion projects in its 35-year history, bringing the campus' academic and athletic training facilities to more than 500 acres.

The expansion will be a boost not only for IMG, but for the regional economy. Officials estimated that the construction projects alone would inject $390 million into the economy, and that events at IMG, many held in the new facilities, would generate another $200 million annually.

The scope of the plans would fill many colleges — perhaps even some pro sports franchises — with envy.

The 15-year, five-phase, multimillion- dollar project includes a multisport complex, field house, student dormitory and research facilities.

The stadium, which will seat 5,000 with the ability to double that, features a Bermuda-grass surface, TV-ready lights, an eight-lane, 400-meter track, press box, suites, collegiate-style video board and other track training areas.

Set to open in August, the facility will be used for IMG Academy's inaugural high school football season, lacrosse, soccer and track and field.

A residence hall opening in June will house up to 500 students, and will also be used during summer camps.

A baseball quadruplex rivaling “any spring training facility,” according to IMG Academy, will also be added. Baseball offices will be housed at the stadium, where a 40,000-square-foot field house will be completed in 2014.

The new facilities should allow IMG to attract even bigger events, bringing more athletes and fans to the area. The academy hosts many events, including the IMG National Baseball Classic and IMG Lacrosse Nationals.

Phase 3 of the project will create a research facility for companies such as Gatorade, Under Armour and Prince to develop products using IMG as a testing ground, said Sam Zussman, managing director.

“This facility gives us the chance to go even further, not only for our student-athletes, but also the community,” said Greg Phillips, athletics director.

The expansion reflects the academy's broad appeal. It is a training ground for elite athletes including tennis star Maria Sharapova and NFL quarterback Cam Newton, who prepared there for the draft. It also attracts hundreds of prospects to its K-12 school and camps as they aim to earn college scholarships.

“We are first and foremost a school,” said Kim Berard, head of public relations. “Everything we do is for the kids. These facilities are for the student-athletes competing in the new stadium, competing on the new fields.”

About 800 athletes from 80 countries are enrolled as year-round students at IMG Academy. Each year, some 25,000 athletes of all skill levels train individually, at camps or as part of teams or leagues.

“By nature, we expect numbers for camps and events to increase,” Berard said, adding that IMG Academy hopes to expand student enrollment to at least 1,200.

Melissa Shobe looked Wednesday at renderings of the baseball fields on which her son, Connor, will play.

“The fields here are already beautiful, but we'll have nice concession stands, better bleachers, more fields, changing facilities in closer proximity,” said Shobe, whose 16-year-old son is in his third year at IMG. “We thought we moved here in 2004 to expand our business, but really it was so he could go to IMG.

“It-s world-class, year-round training, nutrition — all aspects for a total student-athlete.”

The sports training mecca began in 1978 with the founding of the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. IMG purchased the facility in 1987, and has been expanding ever since. The Bradenton location now boasts training for baseball, basketball, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and track.

Attracting nearly 200,000 people a year for training and events, IMG Academy continues to benefit the local economy.

“In 2012, our annual economic impact was $180 million per year,” said Chip McCarthy, chief financial officer. “Right now we're at about $517 million. You can see the growth.”

“We don't want this to be a six-day-a-year facility. We want this to be a 365-day facility,” said athletics director Phillips.

To achieve that goal, Phillips said, IMG Academy looks to draw high school games, state championships and pro events with the expansion. Through IMG Performance, an event management group, the Bradenton facility already hosts the IMG 7v7 National Championships, the IMG National Baseball Classic and the IMG Lacrosse Nationals. Those events will move to the new facilities.

“We have always considered that we could match up against anyone as far as number and quality of facilities,” Berard said. “Now we've taken it up to a new level with the stadium. We're making ourselves more accessible to different events that may want to come in and bring business to the area.”

It's possible the facility will receive $3 million in state funding, via action last month by Florida House leaders. The Senate has yet to approve the allocation.

"What we're trying to do is secure money from the state to attract and build additional facilities for events that are currently outside the state . . . to bring events to the area,” McCarthy said. “We've been successful so far, but we're looking for larger events.”

Manatee County Commissioner John Chappie, who recently voted with the board to rezone 220 acres owned by IMG Academy to the master planned/institutional category to allow a wide range of development options, reflected on the facilities' history.

“We recognize the importance of IMG Academy,” said Chappie, adding that Bollettieri had a vision more than 30 years ago.

“It's a global destination. We all agree the possibilities are endless.”

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